Down in front

Submitted by DISCUSS Man on

do you hear this as much anymore at the Big House? I haven't heard it in a long time.

I remember when was a hot button issue among fans. While I'm at it, if you have any stories about a down in front experience, please

 

DISCUSS

mackbru

May 10th, 2015 at 3:05 PM ^

I'm all for standing. But some posters here don't seem to appreciate that there's a substantial contingent of fans -- older ones -- who really can't comfortably stand for 3+ hours. Many of these fans are old loyalists who deserve more respect. And a lot of younger fans are inconsiderate.

Zok

May 10th, 2015 at 3:40 PM ^

Very few even the diehard do that outside the student section.

Those of us who stand up for big plays to cheer shouldn't be harassed by the "older generation" either. Yes just bc you are older doesnt mean you are allowed to harass people. That is not respect.

If you or your family members can't stand for big plays they should stop going to games. Seriously. That is part of the experience and if they don't like it maybe it isn't for them anymore.

Bando Calrissian

May 10th, 2015 at 3:51 PM ^

Tell that to the assholes in my section who stand up in row 20 for the entire game, every play, plus halftime, spend two quarters doing the "up in back" routine and yelling at elderly people before just acting like they're deaf. It's been a problem for the past two or three seasons, every game, and the ushers can only do so much. I'm so damn sick of worrying about how confrontational it's going to be every time I go to the seats our family has had since the mid-1970s...

Canadian

May 10th, 2015 at 4:00 PM ^

I stand for the entirety of hockey intermissions and football halftimes simply because I need to get up off my sore ass and stretch my legs if I can. If people have a problem with that then they can fuck right off. I only stand when necessary during gameplay though so I don't get many complaints during the breaks

Wolverine Devotee

May 10th, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^

Don't understand how some people can sit for the entire game. Their ass must feel like a rock by the end of it from sitting on those bleachers.

Seat cushion or not. Not sure if the season ticket holder seat cushions are any better, but the seat pads they allow people to bring in don't help that much after awhile.

HarbaughToMichigan

May 10th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^

So what? You would suggest banning seat cushions to quietly undermine the seats of those who would prefer to sit? Between your strategy of forcible expulsion of the older generation and the above commenter's obvious rudeness, these games are starting to be unwelcoming for most supporters. I hope the Athletic Department takes note.




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Wolverine Devotee

May 10th, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^

Jesus, man.

I was simply commenting about how sore my ass gets after sitting on bleachers. This happens at every sporting event I have ever been to where bleachers are the seats.

I bring a seat cushion every game. I used to this cushion, but then DB decided to ban any of them with a zipper for whatever dumbass penny-pincher reason. 

Thing was the best. It locked onto the seat so it wouldn't slide around, too. 

HarbaughToMichigan

May 10th, 2015 at 5:30 PM ^

I'd like to hear that idiot, Dave Brandon, explain the justification for banning seat cushions with zippers! Because terrorists wouldn't simply stitch up the seat after stashing their weapon? Or to prevent fans from bringing in any sort of nourishment not purchased from the AD's overpriced vendors? Or to prevent drunken undergraduates from getting their hands on even more firewater?

Only the third option is even conceivably a valid justification.




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Toasted Yosties

May 10th, 2015 at 3:14 PM ^

About every game that I've attended I've been yelled at for standing, which is usually only on defensive third downs. Last game I attended I was even yelled at for standing during halftime. Quiet wins the day at Michigan games.

Toasted Yosties

May 10th, 2015 at 4:47 PM ^

I wish other fans did too. But I've sat next to fans reading the newspaper during the game. Some fans are diehards, some fans spend more time critiquing the piped in music than watching the game. I really do see both sides. I feel for the older and/or disabled fans. I also want to, and encourage others to, stand and cheer as often as possible. It's situational and the middleground is not always agreeable amongst the 115,000 or so people. Ultimately, someone is going to feel miffed.

Bando Calrissian

May 10th, 2015 at 5:12 PM ^

My mom reads a book during the game, because if she doesn't, we lose. Been that way for 40 years. When something bad happens, the people we've been sitting with forever routinely look back to see if she put it away. At some point, it became an engrained superstition that can't be stopped. She's a diehard on her own way--pretty much never misses a game. So do please continue to judge everyone around you who you think isn't a good fan.

Toasted Yosties

May 10th, 2015 at 5:37 PM ^

What I meant by "diehards" was loud and boisterous fans who stand and cheer, but I don't think I said anything about diehards being good fans. I am a fan who enjoys standing and cheering loudly, something I believe impacts the game if done correctly (at least the being loud part) and generally, I am unable to do so due to other fans who prefer quiet stands. Your mom's superstitious acts sounds great. I hope she continues to do so. Clearly, if there are good fans, your mom is among them. The point of my comment was whether they are reading the newspaper, or a book like your mom, or critiquing music, they generally aren't pleased with the louder variety of fans, and vice versa for us louder fans. The middleground is very small if it exists at all.

Qmatic

May 10th, 2015 at 3:15 PM ^

Usually for big games, a lot of my section stands so that is good. For the rest of the time, I stay standing until someone asks me to sit.




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Tator Salad

May 10th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^

This is why the top row is the best. Stand and lean back against the wall all game, plus I love being able to see the whole field and watch plays develop.




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Jeff09

May 10th, 2015 at 3:26 PM ^

I actually haven't noticed this as an issue recently, and I'm usually standing during the big plays. It feels like people stand when you would expect and sit when you expect

tbeindit

May 10th, 2015 at 3:32 PM ^

I've always had such mixed feelings on this.  Do I wish that every fan would be standing up, making noise, and being involved on every play?  Absolutely.  I think it would make the Big House an extremely intimidating place to play.

However, I also realize that a 65 year old alum has every bit as much of a connection to Michigan as I do (and probably more) and just as much of a right to attend games of his or her favorite team in the fall.

Considering this, I think it's kind of unreasonable to expect fans to stand the entire game around the entire stadium, especially considering how many TV timeouts have been added in recent years.  

There are 2 things though that bother me a lot about the fanbase that I think would add a ton to our gameday experience.  First, is the general level of noise.  As some have mentioned, you don't need to stand to make noise.  Yell in your seat.  So what if people get annoyed.  The noise really does make a difference.

The other thing is the lack of participation in the Maize Outs.  Is it really that much to ask for fans to wear a maize colored shirt for one game?  It makes the stadium look great on TV and to every fan, recruit, and writer that's in attendance. 

I think it would add sooo much to the environment if people would simply make noise and wear maize for the Maize Out games.

BornSinner

May 10th, 2015 at 3:36 PM ^

I've personally thought that a Blue Out would work better than a Maize Out. Everyone is already wearing blue jeans. The blue would look stronger whereas the maize is already spotty considering the different shades. 

Canadian

May 10th, 2015 at 4:04 PM ^

No. Just no. Blue would look dull and not grab the attention (if that's what you're after). The Maize (current Adidas Maize is actually best for this unfortunately) grabs the attention and stands out on tv and those in attendance.

gwkrlghl

May 10th, 2015 at 6:27 PM ^

The "Blue Out" is basically what the stadium ends up looking like late in the season anyway as everyone's maize t-shirts get covered up by whatever heavy coat is available to them

Padog

May 10th, 2015 at 3:36 PM ^

Do both types of fans have the right to be there? Absolutely! Should you have to stand the entire game in order to see? No. But there is a difference between standing after big plays and standing the entire game. When the game is going on I should absolutely have the right to stand. If you want to sit, watch the game at home.

softshoes

May 10th, 2015 at 3:53 PM ^

The only problem I have about standing  is you have to re-earn those hard fought for inches on your bench seat all over again.

Then again I could try and sit down a few seconds before eveyone else then insist they get off my leg.

Monkey House

May 10th, 2015 at 3:53 PM ^

I sat low down in the bowl one year for the msu game(bobby Williams last game) and had a 70 year old msu fan grab my hood on my shirt and yank it down and yelled for me to sit down after a long pass play to the other end of the field. some times u have to stand to see the play. needless to say I had some words with that dude for putting his hands on me. he left shortly after.

I dumped the Dope

May 10th, 2015 at 4:19 PM ^

when a guy named Schembechler ruled the sidelines...the first row of seats in Michigan Stadium was only about 18" up off the field of play.

The players naturally did not sit down during the game unless dead or knocked comatose.

So the fans behind were forced to stand to see anything at all.

This fanned out quite a ways up. 

Whether it was stadium design genius Fielding Yost posthumously at work or not, it did lead to some fan fatigue.

When the stadium field was lowered 5-6 feet around 1995 for the advent of natural grass, it did alleviate that issue.

Also in such days, the students sat directly across the aisle from the "40-50 yardline seats" who naturally were older citizens, etc.  The older crowd would not continue the Wave, and bellowing catcalls constantly rang out..."GET OUT OF YOUR WHEELCHAIRS".  I was a young kid and didn't really understand the full compendium of forces at work although I observed this.

Beer was also allowed to be self-carried into the stadium in these days, I think 1984 was the last year, but those are stories for another day, lads.

8-)

 

Toasted Yosties

May 10th, 2015 at 4:18 PM ^

First, gauge the critical number of standers in each section necessary to get the whole section standing, then buy that number of tickets spread out in a section and share them with dedicated standers. If we all stand, everybody stands. M'wahaha.

In the voice of Tony Montana...In this country, you gotta get the tickets first, then when you get the tickets, you get the standers, then when you get the standers, you get the women.

WolverineHistorian

May 10th, 2015 at 4:20 PM ^

I must be one of those rare people who have never experienced this at the big house.

About 95% of the games I have been to have been in the north end zone. Every section I was in was seated for the Ho-hum 2 yard runs or non-exciting plays. But if we were in scoring position in our end zone or on D in our end zone, everyone was always on their feet screaming as they should be. No confrontations, no "down in front!" just common sense.

There were obvious exceptions; 2005 Penn State (Manningham!) everyone stayed standing for the end of that 4th quarter. 2012 OT against Northwestern, nobody dared to sit down after Roundtree caught that bomb.

Only once have I ever turned around and signaled people to get on their feet which was 2004 Braylonfest when we were making our comeback...although that was the south end zone. It's kind of a different world on that side of the stadium with no students.

Wolverine Devotee

May 10th, 2015 at 4:44 PM ^

Every down in front but one that I've heard has been on the East side of the stadium.

I got down in front'd at the SPRING GAME. It was a first for me.

I was filming Harbaugh walking out of the tunnel and getting a standing ovation. Get off your ass and applaud him for coming home. 

MichiganMAN47

May 10th, 2015 at 6:13 PM ^

There's no need to stand up during a spring game when everyone is sitting down. Its a spring game and you obstruct the views of everyone behind you. Its one thing to stand up for a key play or two, it's another to stand the duration of an event.